This is my first 56mm prime lens and it's decent for its price. The built quality is great and images are clear in general. I don't like the hood/cover design as you can't use both at the same time, so you'll have to store the hood separately when you close the lens. AF on the video mode isn't too smooth so I'd recommend you get another lens if you're shooting videos. Overall, I think it's a cheaper lens to get yourself into the prime lens world, enjoy!

Watched some reviews on YouTube and was kind of hesitant.Couldn't be more satisfied, sharpness and colors come out incredibly good.

It had the "correct" mount, but was made out of spec and would not mount to my Sony FX30 camera. The reseller jumped me through a lot of hoops before refunding my money and treated me so poorly that I have resolved to never risk buying from that seller again. While the listing showed TTArtisan as the seller, it is really a different company and they treat their customers horribly.

I've used a TTArtisan manual focus lens, so when I saw this autofocus prime I wanted to check it out.I think it really provides good value for the price. I don't think you're getting away with anything, but lenses can be expensive. This one is inexpensive, has an autofocus that works well, and can take great photos within its constraints.It opens up to 1.8 but I like it better stopped down from there, depending on what I'm going for.I enjoy shooting with prime lenses and I'm not averse to manual focus, especially if I have time to compose. But having an inexpensive AF prime is a nice option and I am enjoying using it with my a6000.

I've had this lens for less than a week, but my initial impressions are 100% positive. Images, taken at f1.8 are incredibly sharp, colors are spot on and the lens works beautifully with Sony's AF. It's simply fantastic, especially considering the price.

Just received this lens today. I am using it on my Sony A6400. The auto focus at time does not focus where I needed to be. I'm not sure if I need to update the firmware since I just got the lens today.I was using this lens on my Sony a6000. It appeared that the auto focus work faster on my a6000 that on my a6400. The picture was very sharp on both my camera.

I’m not usually one for looking at MTF charts, but I’m not one for buying $169 lenses either. On the other hand, creatively, I don’t feel there’s any point of making comparisons; whether it’s a lens, film stock or a particular camera, in my opinion, one makes creative choices based on a pre-visualized outcome or using the quality of what’s on hand to its best advantage, e.g., see the photographs of Sarah Moon and Deborah Turbeville. It can’t be argued that they are or were photographically technicians.So, the question becomes, and what is often used as a marketing strategy for poorly made lenses (“it has character”), does the lens in question have a quality or characteristics that could be termed creative? But the real question is: does the lens have characteristics that the user can use creatively to enhance their vision?A look at the 30lp/mm MTF chart will tell you that at f5.6, the 56mm f1.8 TTArtisan lens is quite sharp from the center to the edge of the sensor, but that contrast drops off precipitously almost immediately, decreasing rather drastically from center to edge. Which is to say, that you’re going to get good sharpness and good contrast at the very center of the sensor, period; it’s the combination of sharpness and contrast that account for visual acutance. According to the same chart, at f1.8, wide open, sharpness that starts as average at best, increases as you move away from center, with best performance half way between the center and edge of the sensor, however contrast falls off immediately and continuously between the center to the edge. In all cases, sharpness and contrast diverge considerably, with the best performance of the lens, at least at the tested apertures of f1.8 and f5.6, at the very center of the frame, with things getting rapidly softer as you move toward the edges.In my real-world tests, looking at unedited jpegs, I found the MTF chart to give an accurate description of what to expect from the lens’ performance. Wide open, at f1.8, it isn’t very sharp or crisp anywhere in the frame; delineation between light and dark areas is muddy, and colors are dull. At f5.6 - 8, in the center of the frame, the lens performs at its best, with an impressive degree of both sharpness and contrast, and minimal chromatic aberration. If you’re after performance, set this lens at f5.6, adjust all other settings around that aperture, and keep your subject in the middle of the frame. In my opinion, this is not the lens for wide open shooting.Physically, the lens feels like its built with a lot of plastic, it might be aluminum; its light. The rear lens cap serves as a USB connection for firmware updates. The coatings on the glass surfaces look substantial, as does a very well-made lens shade, although its shape doesn’t allow for the use of the lens cap.The AF is accurate, but slower than more expensive lenses, and there is a fair amount of focus breathing. Focusing the lens manually, using color peaking, was a breeze, and smooth; I like using the lens in manual focus.So, those are my thoughts and experiences of the lens. Who’s the TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 lens for? In my opinion, someone looking for a budget lens with autofocus that isn’t particularly interested in shooting wide open as a means of expression. Or, those that shoot soft imagery as creatively. In that respect, it’s a good value. Be aware also that on an APS-C sensor the 56mm focal length is a medium telephoto lens.I'm going to rate the TTArtisan 56 mm f1.8 lens 5-Stars based purely on value. In addition, I don't find that they're trying to pretend the lens is something it's not.

I love this focal length. On an APS-C body with IBIS, it’s perfect for candid telephoto shots.PROS: Stupid value for the money. Center sharpness is great, but also across the frame when stopped down. The lens hood is surprisingly effective. Smooth, accurate focus ring. Lens works equally well in both AF and MF modes (unlike my other lenses). In fact, if I want to shoot manual with the option of AF in emergencies, this is the lens I choose every time.CONS: A bit on the heavier side, but it’s not terrible.

Lots of choices here in this focal length, but I think this is the best one out of the many with this price. If I could afford it, or if I did this a bit more seriously I would buy the Sigma for the wide aperture, but this is sufficient and incredibly sharp in the center. I don’t see a color change, either like I saw with the Meike in some test footage.